Parshat Vayakhel

For the week ending 27 Adar I 5760; 3 & 4 March 2000

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Contents:

Parsha Questions

Whats Bothering Rashi

I Did Not Know That!

Recommended Reading List

Answers to Parsha Questions

Back issues of Parsha Q&A

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Parsha Questions

Answers | Contents

1. On which day did Moshe assemble the Jewish People?
2. Why is the prohibition against doing work on Shabbat written prior to the instruction for building the Mishkan?
3. Why does the Torah specify the particular prohibition of lighting a fire on Shabbat right after it had already noted the general prohibition of doing work on Shabbat?
4. What function did the "yitdot hamishkan" serve?
5. What function did the "bigdei hasrad" serve?
6. What was unusual about the way the women spun the goat's hair?
7. Why were the Nesi'im last to contribute to the building of the Mishkan? How does the Torah show dissatisfaction with their actions?
8. Who does the Torah identify as the primary builders of the Mishkan? From which tribes were they?
9. What time of day did the people bring their daily contributions for the construction of the Mishkan?
10. For what was the woven goat's hair used?
11. What image was woven into the parochet?
12. Why does the Torah attribute the building of the aron to Betzalel?
13. Where were the sculptured cheruvim located?
14. How many lamps did the menorah have?
15. Of what materials was the mizbe'ach haketoret composed?
16. Of what material was the mizbe'ach ha'olah composed?
17. The kiyor was made from copper mirrors. What function did these mirrors serve in Egypt?
18. How did the kiyor promote peace?
19. The kiyor was made from the mirrors of the women who were crowding at the entrance to the Ohel Mo'ed. Why were the women crowding there?
20. Of what material were the "yitdot hamishkan" constructed?

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What's Bothering Rashi

Contents

"And Betzalel made the ark of acacia wood...." (37:1) Rashi: "Because he gave himself over to the work more wholeheartedly than the other wise people, it is attributed to him." Why does Rashi draw such a conclusion? The Torah simply tells us that Betzalel made these objects. What's bothering Rashi? Answer: Betzalel certainly didn't make these things alone. Oholiav and all the wise men helped. (See 36:1). But because he took full responsibility and gave himself over completely, it is as if he made them alone. Based on Dr. Avigdor Bonchek's new book "What's Bothering Rashi?" - Feldheim Publishers

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I Did Not Know That!

"And they shall give (30:12)"

"Each person who waved a waving of gold...and all who donated a silver or copper donation.... (35:22-24)"

Why were donations of gold called "wavings"? Because when people gave gold, they waved it due to its great value.

Ramban

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Recommended Reading List
Contents

Ramban 35:1 Date of the Assembly 35:21 Generosity and Inspiration 35:22 Female Leadership 38:8 Mirrors of Virtue

Ibn Ezra 35:27 Gifts of the Princes 35:34 Learning and Teaching 38:8 Mirrors of Devotion Sefer Hachinuch 114 Recess from Judgment

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Answers to this Week's Questions

Questions | Contents

All references are to the verses and Rashi's commentary, unless otherwise stated

1. On which day did Moshe assemble the Jewish People?
   35:1 - The day after Yom Kippur.

2. Why is the prohibition against doing work on Shabbat written prior to the instruction for building the Mishkan?
   35:2 - To emphasize that the building of the Mishkan doesn't supersede the laws of Shabbat.

3. Why does the Torah specify the particular prohibition of lighting a fire on Shabbat right after it had already noted the general prohibition of doing work on Shabbat?
   35:3 - There are two opinions: One opinion is to teach that igniting a fire on Shabbat is punishable by lashes as opposed to other "melachot" which are punishable by death. The other opinion is to teach that violation of numerous "melachot" at one time requires a separate atonement for each violation.

4. What function did the "yitdot hamishkan" serve?
   35:18 - The edges of the curtains were fastened to them. These were inserted in the ground so the curtains would not move in the wind.

5. What function did the "bigdei hasrad" serve?
   35:19 - They covered the aron, the shulchan, the menorah, and the mizbachot when they were packed for transport.

6. What was unusual about the way the women spun the goat's hair?
   35:26 - It was spun directly from off the backs of the goats.

7. Why were the Nesi'im last to contribute to the building of the Mishkan? How does the Torah show dissatisfaction with their actions?
   35:27 - The Nesi'im reasoned that they would first let the people contribute materials needed for the Mishkan and then they would contribute what was lacking. The Torah shows its dissatisfaction by deleting a letter from their title.

8. Who does the Torah identify as the primary builders of the Mishkan? From which tribes were they?
   35:30, 35:34 - Betzalel ben Uri from the tribe of Yehuda; Oholiav ben Achisamach from the tribe of Dan.

9. What time of day did the people bring their daily contributions for the construction of the Mishkan?
   36:3 - Morning.

10. For what was the woven goat's hair used?
    36:14 - It was made into curtains to be draped over the Mishkan

11. What image was woven into the parochet?
    36:35 - Cherubim. (See Rashi 26:31)

12. Why does the Torah attribute the building of the aron to Betzalel?
    37:1 - Because he dedicated himself to its building more than anyone else.

13. Where were the sculptured cheruvim located?
    37:7 - On the two extremities of the kaporet (cover of the aron).

14. How many lamps did the menorah have?
    37:23 - Seven.

15. Of what materials was the mizbe'ach haketoret composed?
    37:25,26 - Wood overlaid with gold.

16. Of what material was the mizbe'ach ha'olah composed?
    38:1-2 - Wood overlaid with copper.

17. The kiyor was made from copper mirrors. What function did these mirrors serve in Egypt?
    38:8 - These mirrors aided in the proliferation of the Jewish People. The Jewish women in Egypt would look in the mirrors so as to awaken the affections of their husbands who were exhausted by their slave labor.

18. How did the kiyor promote peace?
    38:8 - Its waters helped a woman accused of adultery to prove her innocence.

19. The kiyor was made from the mirrors of the women who were crowding at the entrance to the Ohel Mo'ed. Why were the women crowding there?
    38:8 - To donate to the Mishkan.

20. Of what material were the "yitdot hamishkan" constructed?
    38:20 - Copper.

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Written and Compiled by Rabbi Eliyahu Kane & Rabbi Reuven Subar
General Editor: Rabbi Moshe Newman
Production Design: Michael Treblow

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